Sen. Tom Bennett

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning submission to an examination to determine fitness for duty for police officers whose duties have been suspended because of disability, certification that a police officer is no longer disabled, and authorizing disabled police officers to be assigned to duty during an emergency, excludes police officers who have attained the age of 60. Amend the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a deputy sheriff or police officer who is retired for disability and is 60 years old or older may not be recalled to service in any capacity. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force Act. Creates the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall monitor the reliability of the Illinois power grid. Contains provisions concerning: the membership of the Task Force; duties of the Task Force; administrative support; and an annual report. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Carbon Capture Infrastructure Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury and shall be administered by the Illinois Power Agency. Provides that $10,000,000 shall be transferred from the Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources Fund to the Carbon Capture Infrastructure Fund. Provides that the Agency shall award grants from the fund to carbon producing power plants for the construction of new carbon capture storage systems. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Carbon Capture Infrastructure Fund. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Broadband Deployment, Equity, Access, and Affordability Act of 2022. Provides that access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband service is essential to full participation in modern life in the State and throughout the United States. Defines terms. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish and implement a statewide broadband service grant program. Provides that the Department shall use money from the grant program only for the exclusive purpose of awarding grants to applicants for projects that are limited to the construction and deployment of broadband service into unserved areas in the State and for the Department's cost to administer the program. Provides that the Department shall not award grant money to a governmental entity or educational institution. Provides that the Department shall not, as a condition of an award of grant money, impose an open network architecture requirement, rate regulation, or other term or condition of service that differs from the applicant's terms or conditions of service in its other service areas. Includes provisions providing for the criteria for determining the award of funds, the information an applicant must provide for an application for a grant, the priority by which the Department shall follow in granting awards, and when the Department shall not award a grant to an applicant. Provides that when a grant is awarded, the Department shall provide notice on its website of each application receiving a grant. Provides that the Department shall require an applicant awarded a grant to submit a semi-annual report from the time the applicant receives the grant to 3 years after completion of the project. Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Supports the continued and increased development and delivery of oil derived from North American oil reserves to American and Illinois refineries. Urges Congress to support continued and increased development and delivery of oil from Canada to the United States. Urges approval of the Keystone XL pipeline project to ensure America's oil independence, improve our national security, reduce the cost of gasoline, create new jobs, and strengthen ties between the United States and Canada.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides and establishes procedures for the recall of all State Executive Branch officers, legislative leaders, the Auditor General, members of the General Assembly, and local government officials. Makes changes to the procedures for the recall of the Governor. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Creates the COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Program Limitation Act. Provides that it is unlawful for an employer in the State of Illinois to create, implement, or otherwise enforce a workplace vaccination program that requires any employee to demonstrate to the employer that he or she has received a vaccine that was approved under emergency use authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Provides for repeal of the Act on January 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

Urges Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Department of Public Health to reinstate local control and allow duly elected school board members to make decisions on COVID-19 mitigation efforts that best fit the community and school districts in which they serve.

Amends the School Code. Allows a school board to discontinue, by publicly adopted resolution, any instructional mandate in the Courses of Study Article of the School Code unless a separate State appropriation is made for the school district that provides full funding for the specific instructional mandate (with exceptions). Provides that if a student requests information on any instructional mandate that has been discontinued, then the school district shall provide the student with the requested information. Effective immediately.

Amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Provides for the acquisition and placement of a statue depicting President Ronald W. Reagan on the grounds of the State Capitol Building. Provides that the Architect of the Capitol may provide for the design and fabrication of the statue, or may otherwise acquire, using funds collected for such purpose or a statue donated to the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, a suitable statue for placement. Requires the Architect of the Capitol to take actions necessary to provide for the placement and unveiling of the statue within specified periods of time. Requires the Architect of the Capitol to issue a report to the Governor and General Assembly detailing his or her actions in acquiring and placing the statue. Provides that the Capitol Restoration Trust Fund shall contain a separate account for the deposit of funds donated for the payment of expenses associated with the placement of the statue. Provides that the separate account may accept deposits from any source, whether private or public, and may be appropriated only for use by the Architect of the Capitol for expenses associated with the acquisition, placement, and maintenance of the statue.